tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20092501502970448382024-02-18T19:57:41.113-08:00If You Feel Just like a Tourist.Do you want to follow my blog? Sign up for email updates!Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-20495189102760642572013-04-27T12:59:00.000-07:002013-04-27T12:59:34.182-07:00Seasons<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have never before appreciated the concept of life seasons more than I do right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having just completed all my first year Nursing exams, I have found myself at a complete and utter loss. After eight months of craziness, I can finally breathe. I've realized how many of my friends I've neglected, being all-consumed and completely focused on my schooling. I've realized how messy I've gotten, how many things got pushed to the wayside in order for me to succeed in school. Now what?! I'm at a loss! I'm currently in a season of transition. If one could objectively look at the state of my heart and emotions, I'm sure they would call me crazy. It seems like just a few weeks ago I walked into my first Orientation class at school, knowing nobody and not knowing what to expect. It seemed like yesterday I went to my first clinical, nervous excitement making me jittery. I still have the program from my grandmother's funeral last month up on the wall. The other day a few close friends went out to celebrate after our last exam and my heart was struck with how grateful I am for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now. Time to rest up! Time to find a job! Time to take a break! Time to enjoy summer! Time to reconnect! Time to read books for the sake of reading books! Time to pour into my relationships! Time to dream with Abba about what the future will hold! Time to finally decompress after a long, stressful year. Time to be with family! Time to enjoy outside! Time to enjoy quality time with loved ones. Time to take care of my heart. Time to go for a run! Time to spend more time with my beautiful Saviour. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time to breathe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a
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Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-51295503262502024822013-03-13T12:27:00.000-07:002013-03-13T12:27:05.639-07:00One Thing Remains.<br />
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Higher than the mountains that I face<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Stronger than the power of the grave<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Constant through the trial and the change<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />One thing remains <br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Your love never fails, never gives up<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Never runs out on me <br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />On and on and on and on it goes<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It overwhelms and satisfies my soul<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And I never, ever, have to be afraid<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />One thing remains<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />In death, In life, I’m confident and<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />covered by the power of Your great love<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />separate my heart from Your great love...</div>
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This song has been running through my head and heart all day. In light of the recent passing away of my grandma, this song reminds me that God's love never leaves me. His love is 'stronger than the power of the grave' which is why I can rejoice in my grandmother's passing... because she is now FREE! She is not suffering. God loves our poor, broken humanity so much to welcome us home to heaven when we leave this earth.</div>
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Thanks Jesus for bringing me peace today in the revelation of your love.</div>
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Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-71255710933823428022013-03-10T13:47:00.001-07:002013-03-10T13:47:32.623-07:00On My Knees Again.Well. It's been so long since I have blogged.<br />
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My semester has been insanely busy, and here it is March already. In about five weeks I will be done my first year of nursing! Right now I should be working on a resident profile, cramming for a quiz, and doing other productive things... not happening.<br />
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I entitled this post "On My Knees Again" because that is where I am finding myself right now. Now, the point of this post is not to complain about my life, but rather to acknowledge how desperately I need Jesus. I don't know how else to say it... <i>I am so tired.</i> Nursing school has been the best, but most challenging endeavour. Early (and I mean clinical starts at 6:30am so I wake up at 5:00 early) mornings, long nights, too much homework, not enough time. I failed my Pathophysiology midterm this week, but I don't feel that bad about that one because the class average was 52% and I got 49%.<br />
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Also, my grandmother passed away yesterday. I am still processing. Lots of tears shed, however I know she is with Jesus now, staring Him straight in the eyes. I know she no longer suffers, I know she has no pain, but it's still sad. I am sad for all the family members who never got to say goodbye. I am comforted by Philippians 1:21: <i>To live is Christ, and to die is gain. </i>I know my Grandma has gained so much and I know she is Home. I know she is free. This brings me great comfort. My heart still aches, but I know she is free.<br />
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Honestly, I know I do not have the strength to finish this semester strong without my Love, my Redemption, my Saviour. Current desire is to curl up in a ball and sleep for a week straight. Now you may be thinking, <i>"Sarah, that's called burnout." </i>And guess what, you may be right. I'm tired! However I'm also stubborn. I've got a Saviour who gives strength to the weak, who gives hope to the hopeless. My sister blessed me today with some very comforting verses from Isaiah 40: 28-31:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you not know?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-28" style="position: relative;">Have you not heard?</span></div>
</span><span class="text Isa-40-28" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">
The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is the everlasting<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18449B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> God,</div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-28" style="position: relative;">the Creator<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18449C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> of the ends of the earth.</span></div>
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He will not grow tired or weary,</div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-28" style="position: relative;">and his understanding no one can fathom.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Isa-40-29" id="en-NIV-18450" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">29 </sup><div style="text-align: center;">
He gives strength<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18450G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> to the weary</div>
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<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-29" style="position: relative;">and increases the power of the weak.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Isa-40-30" id="en-NIV-18451" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">30 </sup><div style="text-align: center;">
Even youths grow tired and weary,</div>
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<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-30" style="position: relative;">and young men<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18451I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup> stumble and fall;</span></div>
</span><span class="text Isa-40-31" id="en-NIV-18452" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">31 </sup><div style="text-align: center;">
but those who hope<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18452K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-31" style="position: relative;">will renew their strength.</span></div>
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They will soar on wings like eagles;</div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-31" style="position: relative;">they will run and not grow weary,</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-31" style="position: relative;">they will walk and not be faint.</span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-40-31" style="position: relative;">WHAT AN ENCOURAGEMENT. When reading these verses, God showed me a picture. It was of me, on my knees before Jesus. Instead of leaving me with eyes downcast, Jesus came and lifted my chin and told me <i>"Keep going, child. Do it for me. Do it for your grandma. I will sustain you."</i></span></div>
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So. With fresh energy I will finish strong. I will keep running to receive the prize. I will swallow my dislike of mornings, and go to my Long Term Care rotation determined to make my resident's day. Because who knows, they may pass away any day as well. If I am going there with no energy to care for them, they may pass away without knowing they are loved. I never got to say goodbye to my grandma, but maybe I will be able to make someone else's last days memorable and full of love. </div>
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09MAR13. Grandma I'll miss you. Hope you and Jesus are having a grand time being together. Through my tears I celebrate your freedom. </div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-40-31" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span>Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-8784734719068873862013-01-01T13:30:00.000-08:002013-01-01T13:30:08.963-08:002013All of a sudden, it's 2013. The world didn't end, again, and here you are reading my humble little blog, enjoying the first day of this new blessed year.<br />
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So. I'm feeling particularly sentimental today. Always seems to happen in the new year, as the reality of another year passed catches up with me.<br />
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I started out 2012 in the Dominican Republic, on my DTS outreach. YWAM Ensenada, Denver, and San Pedro celebrated together and praised the Lord for a new year. On January 1, we had the day off from usual ministries, and many people headed for the beach. It poured rain, I recall. It was like having a shower in +35 degree weather.<br />
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January 13 of 2012 I lost a friend. Yesterday I re-certified my first aid; and was struck with the memory of performing CPR with Cory, desperately trying to save Federico. I remember the doctor coming and shoving us out of the way. "Él murió! Él es muerte!" he yelled at us. Yesterday those memories resurfaced, as clear as if it were yesterday. I remember his family coming to the base, wailing and crying out to Jesus. I sat off to the side, still bikini-clad from the beach earlier, Federico's vomit still on my shorts. Stunned. While I am sad at these recollections, I praise the Lord for Federico's beautiful life. The impact he had on his community, teaching music lessons and showing everyone the love and the joy of the Lord. His death has fueled me to show people Jesus in the same way that he did.<br />
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February 2012 I graduated from my DTS, and spent a lovely week showing my best friend Michelle the city of Ensenada. A place I have grown to love dearly and miss nearly every day. God blessed that time so richly. At the end of February both of us returned to Canada, Michelle to return to school and me having no idea what tomorrow would bring. God was completely faithful though, and I quickly found a job, with the plans to return to school in September, although not at Kings; I got accepted into the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta.<br />
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In July I took a trip to Washington to visit my dear DTS sister Jessie. We had such a blast :) Way too much fun was had that week, including a trip into Seattle to see McKenna, Pike Place Market and of course the first Starbucks. Jessie is such a refreshment to my soul, her faith is ridiculous and her perspective on life is so joy-filled!<br />
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September was the start of a new era, nursing school. It's been challenging and stressful, but at the same time SO perfect. What a dichotomy. I know I am exactly where God wants me to be! Despite the nights of 4 hours of sleep, despite nearly failing a final exam (first time I've ever said that!) God is SO RIDICULOUSLY GOOD.<br />
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In November, I started dating Jeremiah. If you haven't met him, let me know and we'll visit :) Yep. God is so good to me, I am so deeply blessed, and so looking forward to this new year. God has revealed so much of His heart for me in the last year and particularly in the last two months. I cannot wait what this year holds, where God will lead me, and how I can show Him off to everyone I know.<br />
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So. Blessings to you, dear reader, in this new year. Seek God first, make new discoveries about Him, allow Him to lead you and it will be a year to remember.<br />
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<br />Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-59496686014910752942012-11-23T23:39:00.001-08:002012-11-23T23:39:26.918-08:00Silence.Listen.<br />
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Why is this concept so unnerving? What is it about quiet that makes so many people uncomfortable? Our lives are constantly bombarded by noise. Everywhere. All the time. If not auditory noise, we are bombarded with advertisements, people, schedules, deadlines. Every two seconds you hear someone's smart phone going off; a reminder for something. New text. New email.<br />
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Maybe that's why I enjoy evening so much. It's <i>quiet.</i> Old, familiar tunes don't overpower the quiet right now but rather enhance it. An overly large mug of tea warms my chilled fingers. Psalms 46:10 says,<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"Be Still and know that I am God."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Be Still and know that I am.</span><br />
Be still and know.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Be still. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Be.</span><br />
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What this speaks to me is that the very essence of our being should just simply <i>be;</i> understanding that Abba is our Father. That amidst the chaos of our lives God is still God. He will never change, He will never give up on us, He will never stop loving us. I believe God longs for each one of us to know this. Despite 3 a.m. bedtimes due to late night cramming, despite our ridiculously crazy lives, despite things happening that are beyond our control, <i>Abba is still our Father and He loves us.</i><br />
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This deep understanding, I relate to silence.<br />
Silence is always there. So is God. Silence never changes. Neither does Abba. Sometimes you just need to close the textbook, put away the computer/iPod/phone and wait, to finally hear the silence again. The same is true with our Father. Sometimes you have to deliberately stop being so busy and wait for Him. He longs to communicate with us, he speaks to us often but we <i>just don't listen.</i><br />
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It's easy to let worry obscure this silence. How many times have I been too stressed to even acknowledge what Abba was speaking to my heart? I used to think in times of stress that my Daddy wasn't speaking to me. How wrong I was. He speaks to us constantly. Philippians 4: 6-7 says, "<i>do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, in prayer and supplication, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of Christ, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."</i> Do not be anxious. Be still. Be. And God's peace will blow you away through His Spirit.<br />
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Being still can be hard. It can feel so uncomfortable at first. John 15:7 says, <i>"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you want of me and it will be done for you." </i>Abiding doesn't mean finding Christ for a couple minutes here, an hour or two on Sunday. It means <i>constantly</i>. It means <i>seeking out</i> that silence deliberately. Because guess what. The verses preceding this one say <i>"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burne</i><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i>d." </i></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't know about you, but I feel that's pretty harsh. If you don't abide in Christ, you'll wither up and die, and get thrown into a fire. You won't be thriving. You'll be useless and dead, just like a dried up vine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So. The next time you get overwhelmed with school, the next time painful memories threaten to overtake you, the next time you feel like you just can't handle it all, <i>be still and know.</i> And let Abba take you from there. I won't promise it'll make all the above issues go away, but I do promise if you go in with Abba by your side and the full knowledge of Him resting in your heart, <i>you'll get through. Let God lead you.</i></span>Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-89390469876059979242012-10-20T17:10:00.002-07:002012-10-20T17:10:31.680-07:00Wake up, all you sleepers. Stand up, all you dreamers.Africa interview was this morning. Technically, African <i>interiews. </i>Six of them. I feel like they all went really well. And now the waiting game begins again. In about a week I will find out if I made it to the next level of interviews. Ah.<br />
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As I write this, I'm tucked away in a corner at the U of A. I have been practically living on campus this weekend, studying for my NURS 190 final. Cursed six-week class finals have snuck up on me and have taken away the last shroud of sanity within my being. It's 6:00 pm, I've been here since 10:00 am, save for the lunch break I had with my dear friend Kiri. She is a fellow nurse friend, and also interviewed for Africa this morning. I am thoroughly blessed by her! Hopefully, we'll be conquering Tanzania together come the beginning of May.<br />
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God revealed a piece of His heart to me today. I was just thinking about the capacity of the human mind. We love to be in control. We love to have parameters around our lives. We love to get comfortable, and say "this is what my life will be like, and I'll figure it out. Sweet." However when we do this, we limit where God could take us and what His dreams are for our lives. We just have our little perspective and that's it. However when we dream with Abba, I'm sure He has to laugh at the parameters we place on our lives, because they are so small. When we align our hearts with our Fathers, <i>it changes everything. </i>We stop dreaming our dreams and start dreaming His. We stop chasing our interests and start pursuing His. We stop worrying about our expectations (for me, that means I stop worrying about school and what I expect of myself) and start understanding the bigger picture Abba has painted for us. He's painted a masterpiece for each of our lives, yet oftentimes we are too busy/stressed/worried/tired/apathetic/burned out to notice the colours. We get too caught up in that black smudge right in front of us to notice that it is one small piece of a <i>much bigger picture. HOW CRAZY IS THAT!! </i><br />
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<br />Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-72330274928846816892012-10-06T19:42:00.000-07:002012-10-06T19:42:11.912-07:00Dreaming of Africa.I made a deal with God. I told him my summer was His, and all He had to do was show me. That being said, I think I'm going to Africa! Tanzania, to be exact.<br />
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There was a "Go Abroad" Fair at the U of A the other day, and I had a few hours to kill before classes. I went and took a look around, but nothing really caught my eye so I turned around. As I had my hand on the door handle to head out, God told me to turn around. I was confused, because I thought I had seen everything to see. I was wrong! I ended up turning down a hallway and talking to the people at the Student's International Health Organization (SIHA) table for a good half and hour, asking questions about the Tanzania trip. The day after, I had an informal get together with the leader of the trip to ask more questions and get more information. Today, I printed out the official application and am just about done it.<br />
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So if it pans out, if God wants me in Tanzania, I'll be going May 1 - July 12, to make it back just in time for one of my dearest friend's wedding! The focus of the trip is public health. The way it got explained to me was this: "So basically you get dropped off in the middle of f--king nowhere, assess the greatest health need in each village, and you fill it. No structure at all" Sweet.<br />
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One of the girls in my seminar/lab groups in nursing is super interested in coming as well! We've gotten to be good friends, and spending a summer with her would be SUCH A BLAST! If this trip pans out, it will look so very different from any other trip I have been on. All my traveling has been with a group of Christians. This one will not be so. Group dynamics will be so different. No times of worship with my team. No corporate prayer. But, as I was reflecting on this earlier, I got to thinking that much of life is that way. I was so blessed by my YWAM family, especially my outreach family. However, in life you don't always have that YWAM family at your disposal. There will not always be people willing to pray with you on a rough day. This may be the greatest 10 week challenge of my faith I'll ever see.<br />
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Prayers for God's guidance, and clarity on whether to do this trip or not appreciated :)<br />
Also, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-72224533162425997112012-09-23T14:12:00.004-07:002012-10-06T19:04:09.667-07:00Wanderlust.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hmmm.<br />
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It's been a Bon-Iver, stay-home-in-sweats, watch-the-leaves-change, chai-tea-and-stroopwaffels kind of day. I'm fighting off sickness and haven't really moved too far today.</div>
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Today is the one year anniversary of the start of my Discipleship Training School in Ensenada, Mexico. Last night I was just overwhelmed with gratefulness and had an amazing worship session, just me and Jesus. I was just floored by how much has changed in a year, how tangibly Jesus changed my life. </div>
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A year ago I was angry, I was vulnerable, I was hurting. I flew to Mexico with all the pieces of my shattered past clutched tightly in my fists. So tightly I had scars. The first thing my Jesus did was help me unfurl those fists. He gently pried my fingers open, ever so carefully pulled out the shards stuck in my hands. He showed me to lay my burdens at His feet. He lifted my downcast face to meet His eyes. I stared my Jesus right in the eyes, maybe truly for the first time in my life. I <i>met </i>him. I <i>experienced</i> him. Through the help of my staff and my fellow DTS students, I was able to truly experience the love and adoration my Jesus has had for me, my whole life.</div>
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In the dirty, shadowed streets of Bajio (red light district in Ensenada), I experienced Abba's love without condition. He <i>loves </i>every prostitute in that area. He <i>loves</i> every dealer trying to catch your eye. He<i> loves</i> every man who has laid a punch on his wife. He <i>loves</i> every dirty, homeless person passed out on the sidewalk. His love is never defined by our circumstances or our choices. His heart breaks for every horrible situation, knowing some of his kids are so chemically altered they don't know daytime from nighttime, BUT his love never stops. It doesn't change the moment the needle hits skin, it doesn't change ever. That was hard for me to grasp at times. Seeing men walk out of brothels. I got angry. I hated them for what they did. Seeing prostitutes waiting outside the "hotels," trying to hold their head up high. My heart shattered for them. </div>
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Living in the ghetto streets of the Dominican Republic, the sound of gunshots a regular occurrence, I experienced the love of Jesus through heartbreak. I remember one day we were playing with a bunch of street kids in Bienvenidos. Lots of them have parents, but they are either drug addicts, alcoholics, chronically absent in these kid's lives, or abusive. I remember sitting off to the side with a little boy curled up in my lap, and suddenly my views of these kids changed. Jesus said to me "how you feel right now is how I feel about these kids" and I was so overwhelmed with heartbreak. My chest hurt. I couldn't breathe. In that moment Jesus showed me that being passive about the injustices in the world is just <i>not an option. </i>We need to be praying for issues around the world, not just tucking ourselves away in our own little corner of the world and sticking our head in the sand. As North Americans we are so ridiculously blessed, we don't even know it. God opened my eyes to that in the Dominican Republic. Injustice happens EVERYWHERE and ignoring it is like... ignoring the heart of God. In Edmonton alone, there is homelessness, trafficking, drug abuse, homelessness. How can that be ignored? </div>
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Anyways. I have posed a challenge for myself. For the next five months, my challenge is to read over my notes from my DTS day by day. I never want to forget what I have learned. As I go through my old journals, I'll be sure to post some words of wisdom here on my blog. </div>
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I entitled this post "wanderlust" because I just want to travel! Well that sounds selfish. I made a deal with God that I will go where he sends me next summer. Whether that means staying here in Edmonton and getting involved with a ministry here, or hopping on a plane... My summer is God's. And I am so excited to dream about where that may be, and what that might involve. </div>
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So that's all :)</div>
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If you get bored... do this.</div>
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<a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4Dv5gl/:utejpJwA:WIo27cam/www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ9yn8vLdig/" target="_blank">http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4Dv5gl/:utejpJwA:WIo27cam/www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ9yn8vLdig/</a></div>
Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-38476332371721561682012-09-13T20:48:00.000-07:002012-09-13T20:48:13.797-07:00Sarah Stad: Faculty of Nursing Undergraduate Studies.Well, it's official.<br />
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I'm a nursing student! After completing my first full week of Nursing at the University of Alberta, I am already displaying classic symptoms of any undergrad nurse. Dark circles under eyes. Re-aquaintance with coffee, namely every single Starbucks, Second Cup or Tim Hortons between ECHA and CCIS, my buildings. Back pain from toting around 20 pounds of nursing textbooks.<br />
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That being said.... I. LOVE. IT. I am completely embracing being thrown out of my comfort zone. My logic is.. I'm a YWAMer. ...What is a comfort zone again? YWAM sent me so far removed from anything I could possibly call comfort. So, a new university is a piece of cake in comparison. At the U of A there are maps. On NIKO (Mexican wilderness week) we got sent out with horribly vague directions and stumbled around the Mexican mountains, in the dark. U of A? Piece of cake. Compared to where I have been, the experiences I have lived, nursing school does not strike fear in my heart.<br />
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Sure it's hard to stay awake in an 8 am lecture, after awakening at 6 in the morning. However, I think perspectives change everything. Today I caught myself whining about 8 am lectures (if you know me, you know I hate mornings...) however I was struck with a revelation. I have NO RIGHT to complain about 8 am lectures. I have 1) the resources to attend university in the first place. 2) Learning facilities that are brand flippin new. If you've seen the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, it's gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. 3) An excellent faculty and 4) The opportunity learn skills millions of people will neither be able to learn themselves, or see in practice.<br />
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So that's that. Life is a whirlwind, studying nursing and going to Prison Ministry are going to consume my life for the next four years, and God continues to blow my mind.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-31108351480701516692012-09-02T22:18:00.002-07:002012-09-02T22:18:44.865-07:00Warriors, ICU's and Letters from PrisonThis afternoon I spent a couple hours visiting my neighbors from Lacombe in the Stollery Children's Hospital ICU. <div>
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Their son Ryan has been sick his whole life, and close to death many times in his 18 years. Every time he's been really sick I have been meaning to go visit them; today I finally had the chance. Seeing Ryan attached to a tangle of IV's, tubes and the respirator took my breath away. As I grabbed his hand, I could feel the effort it took for him to close his grasp. But he did.</div>
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His communication right now is limited to thumbs up or down, or shaking or nodding his head because of the respirator. I was absolutely struck with the strength of Ryan's family right now. They fully rely on the Lord in this time, and are still able to joke around with their son. The amount of love they have for Ryan and for the Lord despite the hardships in their lives took my breath away today. Jackie and Clayton if you ever read this... please know how much you touched my life today. I saw the joy and the peace of the Lord in your eyes. I saw in Ryan determination and such a warrior's spirit. </div>
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God has been giving me the most profound experiences these last few days. Seeing Ryan left such a deep impact on my heart. This evening in church I found the letter I always keep tucked in my Bible. Last Tuesday at Edmonton Young Offenders Centre I received a letter from one of the guys there. One of the last lines reads "God is my homie, and so are you. Know that I will keep praying for you." I have been able to pour into this individual's life a lot in the last few weeks, and I see in him also a warrior spirit. This boy has been through a lot in his life; his dad is an alcoholic and his mom is in rehab. I see in him a warrior who hasn't discovered his potential yet. I pray every day that he will; and that God will just wreck him for the ordinary.</div>
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More and more I find life is overwhelming, and God just keeps blowing my mind. Sometimes my heart is raw, and I want to go back to YWAM so badly. But then God comes and speaks to my heart so tangibly that my path is in Canada right now, and all I can do is fall on my knees in worship.</div>
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<span class="line line-s" id="line_1" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">You were near, Though I was distant</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_2" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Disillusioned I was lost and insecure</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="line line-s" id="line_3" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Still mercy fought, For my attention</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_4" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">You were waiting at the door, Then I let You in</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="line line-s" id="line_5" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Trading Your life, For my offenses</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_6" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">For my redemption, You carried all the blame</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="line line-s" id="line_7" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Breaking the curse, Of our condition</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_8" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Perfection took our place</span><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="line line-s" id="line_9" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">When only love</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_10" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Could make a way</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_11" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">You gave Your life</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_12" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">In a beautiful exchange</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="line line-s" id="line_13" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">My burden erase, my life forgiven</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_14" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">There is nothing, that could take this love away</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_15" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span class="line line-s" id="line_16" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">My only desire, and sole ambition</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_17" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Is to love You just the same</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="line line-s" id="line_9" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">When only love</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_10" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Could make a way</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_11" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">You gave Your life</span><span class="line line-s" id="line_12" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">In a beautiful exchange</span></span></div>
Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-53008536881422473832012-08-27T20:46:00.000-07:002012-08-27T20:46:47.908-07:00Evening.As I get older it seems time goes faster. Freakishly so.<br />
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I feel like I just woke up several hours ago, and now it's evening. I went for a walk and watched the sky gradually darken, streaks of purples and pinks against navy.<br />
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6 months and 4 days ago, Michelle and I returned home from Mexico. She came to visit me for a week after my DTS ended. The border line in Tijuana was horrible, and we ended up running across the Mexican/American border with all our luggage in tow. Somewhere rattling around the back of my head was the remote fear of getting shot in the back of the head. We were instructed to get into a white car (a YWAMer don't worry) and he would drive us to the airport. Ended up missing our flight anyway, but caught later flights that day.<br />
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It's been quite the adventure since returning home to Canada. I still hold my time in YWAM so very close to my heart, and I can't believe it's been 6 months already. I still wake up with memories of my Discipleship Training School bouncing around my brain as if they happened yesterday. Getting lost one of the first days, in the dark. Breaking down in utter pain and releasing years of hurt in the presence of my team. The feeling of finally being barefoot again, walking across the courtyard I have walked for years. Amazing times of worship. Our ridiculous Christmas party. Laughing so hard it hurt. Crying so hard it hurt. Working in the Red Light District every Friday night. Blaring Relient K in the kitchen during work duties. Praying over outreach. The fear/excitement twisting around my stomach the day we left for outreach. Being overwhelmed by all the beautiful black children. Christmas. New Years. Praying for the woman in the Haitian refugee camp who lost her son. Federico passing away. Traveling to Oaxaca. Meeting our amazing family there. Me being in the hospital. Returning to Ensenada. Returning to Canada.<br />
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Fast forward to August 27, 2012. Five more days of work, many reunions with old friends, one music festival and one wedding until I officially start Orientation at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Nursing. I found out the other day they had over 2600 applications and 300 people got accepted. 11.5%. I am in that 11.5%. Another confirmation that I am exactly in the middle of God's will for me. I am going into this school year ready. I am ready to return to University, I am in great shape and content with the work I have done this summer. I started Bikram yoga this summer and took up running again. I have been digging into the Word and I am so confident in my Father and what He wants me to do with my life.<br />
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Bring it Nursing. I'm going in with Abba on my side.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-77456578280523729432012-07-26T22:51:00.001-07:002012-07-26T22:53:41.719-07:00On Life, on Love, on Being a Light.Honestly since I last blogged life has been such a blur.<br />
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Since the end of April, I have switched jobs, quit jobs, gave up my summer to the Lord, and got another job. I have also gotten back involved in Prison Ministry, and I am loving it more and more every week. I've registered for all my courses for Nursing at the University of Alberta in the fall, and I cannot waiiiiiiit for September to come. I'm ready to go back to school.<br />
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I have gone camping for my Mom's side of the family reunion, and recently I returned from a week-long trip to Washington to visit Jessie from my DTS. In about t-11 hours I leave with my parents and brother to Vancouver for my Dad's side of the family reunion. My baby sister is in New Zealand currently; she started her Medical DTS about two weeks ago. We skyped for about an hour and a half tonight, and my chest hurts thinking about her. Martha if you read my blog still, I miss you. A lot.<br />
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A gift that God has given me is insight. Insight into others lives, insight into when people are hurting. I often carry burdens for people and intercede for them in my heart constantly. Right now the names coming into my head... Darryl. A homeless guy me and a few friends met downtown. Mercedes. One of the little girls from Kid's Rally (a kid's program for low income families). D (name withheld). A guy I met in our prison ministry at EYOC. I think it is fair to say that often we as society run into hurting people and don't really care. Or, we may care for a while and then forget their names. Even as I write an image comes into my mind. A dirty, faded photograph of a crying child. Given to me while I was in the Dominican Republic from a mom who lost her baby. Her estranged husband stole their child and ran back to Haiti with him. Often upon meeting someone and hearing their story, it is very impactful. But how about two months later? How about even two weeks later? We're called to "pray without ceasing" - 1 Thess 5:17. That doesn't mean pray today, and then get distracted tomorrow and stop caring. Without ceasing means without ceasing!<br />
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I want my every breath, my every day to be these prayers for these people. I want to be one of those Christians that makes an impact, that people notice. I don't want to be one of those people who says "absolutely I'll pray for you" and then walk away and forget their name. I want to love like Jesus did. I want to be ridiculous for my Savior and be a light. I want to change lives. As I dig more and more into the Word, I understand more who Jesus was, what He did for me, and therefore how I can be that light!!!! It's inspiring to be living it out, even outside the confines of YWAM's walls. I hope through the love God has put in my heart for the hurting, the broken, the left out, can radiate to everyone I meet, every day. Not just Sunday. Not just when I'm inspired.<br />
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Every day.<br />
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<br />Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-9237282688348498082012-04-27T23:56:00.001-07:002012-04-27T23:56:48.614-07:00I Don't Know Where the Last Two Months of my Life Have Gone.Tonight I was struck with the somewhat unsettling realization that I have been home from DTS for two months.<br />
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Two months.<br />
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As I reflect over the last two months I realize it's been a whirlwind. I don't consider myself a terribly great writer, and I wish there was some way to properly bring life to the convoluted emotions rattling around my head. I remember the first days I was back in Canada, spending time with my family. I remember Christmas in February, giving gifts that have traveled many oceans to finally land at home. I remember the very first night I was home I couldn't sleep because my room was too quiet and my bed was too big. No roommates chattering at all blessed hours of the night, no squeak of the bunk beds.<br />
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I remember the first time I drank water out of the tap at home I cried, because drinking 1) COLD water that 2) comes out a RUNNING TAP that is 3) SAFE for consumption are all luxuries many people in this world today will never come to understand. I remember the first time I entered a mall I just felt sick, seeing everyone rush around tied to deadlines and sales and consumerism and it all just felt so dead to me. I remember in the Edmonton airport seeing French and being sent for a loop because it wasn't Spanish. I remember my first time stepping foot back at the King's University College and seeing so many familiar faces, and a lot of new ones.<br />
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So many re-connections. I remember catching up with my roommates; hearing so many stories from the previous five months. Catching up with so many people, being thrilled to hear some news, and horribly disappointed with other news. So many coffee dates, so many more promised. Missing my DTS family. Writing letters and getting packages from other parts of the world. Getting a job at the Library at King's. That has been a huge blessing financially. I was very much broke when I came home and this job has been a Godsend. Building friendships, renewing old friendships, and looking forward to what is next. Seeking God amidst all the craziness. Seeking Him through the hard times and the good. Praising Him regardless.<br />
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My DTS was perfect in the season that God required me to go. My Father built me up into who I am now; that required being broken first. I went to Mexico with the pieces of me clutched tightly in my fists. Abba helped me unclench those fists and drop all those pieces at His feet. And then He started building. Fitting those pieces together just the way He intended them to fit. Even two months later I am trying to figure out exactly what that means. I lived a lifetime in those five months. A lifetime of learning, growing, healing. I made a family in those five months. A family that is spread across the globe, so far yet so close to my heart.<br />
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I don't want to change back to who I was. I am a disciple, I am a YWAMer, I am a missionary. I am a dreamer. I want to be in this world but not of it. I will stand proudly for my Lord even if make a fool of myself.<br />
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... Shout out to my DTS family. I love you and miss you. So much.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-659035596063311812012-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:002012-02-22T09:32:52.241-08:00The Last Day.So since Saturday I've been hanging around the base with Michelle. Today's our last day in Mexico.<br />
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It's been weird hanging out here, without my DTS family. It was so hard saying goodbye as they slowly trickled away to the airport. I cried a lot. It seemed like little pieces of my heart were getting ripped out and it was horrible. I believe our staff leaders did a pretty good job of explaining reverse culture shock and how hard it would be... but still. My family is gone. This may very well be the most melancholy blog post.. But I miss my family. I miss the last five months. I'm not sure I'm ready to go home, and to get back into North American culture. Blagh.<br />
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I am going to miss Mexico. I miss my family sooo much... especially my outreach team.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-60784541488237777212012-02-18T12:03:00.000-08:002012-02-18T12:03:12.026-08:00Post-Graduation.We are done.<br />
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Saturday, February 11, we left Oaxaca and flew into Los Angeles. On the drive back down to Ensenada, I fell silent and blocked out the excited chatter of my teammates. As I stared off into the ocean, I realized I had no words to aptly explain the wave of emotions I was feeling. Part of me was overwhelmingly happy to be finished outreach, and I was elated at the accomplishment I felt. Two months. Two months of mostly cold showers, oppressing spiritual warfare, pouring out into others, tears, more tears, joy, exhaustion, peace, bringing people to the Lord, pouring into relationships.<br />
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The other part of my heart was so crushingly sad that I cried. As people were chattering in the background, I realized how each member of Team Chewbacca has become my family. Klaus, Tony, Cory, Colton, Steph, Kiley, Jessie, Ester, Gaby, Ellie, Peta and Rheanne have really become my second family. I cried as I realized... being done means saying goodbye. I never realized it was possible to take a group of twelve strangers from seven countries... and call them family after two months of doing life together.<br />
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As a family Team Chewbacca has been through a lot. I think for everyone the Dominican Republic was difficult because the spiritual warfare was so tangible. We had several occasions when we woke up in the middle of the night and prayed together. Times where we all felt so dry that we just sat in a room and prayed for each other.. for hours. We were all devastated when Federico died. Everyone was worried when Cory got sick and couldn't fly to Oaxaca right away. I wasn't there, but I heard stories that everyone pulled together to put out the massive fire. Everyone prayed for me when I was in the hospital. As a family we saw the mountaintop, and we crashed in the valley. We saw little children in the Dominican with huge, open, gaping wounds because a witch cursed them. We pulled together as a team in the tough times, and enjoyed each other's company on our few days off. We collectively drank way too much coffee and got not enough sleep.<br />
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This chapter of my life is done. This season is coming to a close. Thursday night was our graduation and it was horribly bittersweet. Such a sense of accomplishment, such a season of growth, finished. Since then people have been trickling off to the airport and saying goodbye has been nothing short of horrendous. I surprised myself at how attached I am to my DTS family. Saying goodbye has left the biggest ache in my chest. Even writing this brings such a raw emotion. Jessie and Ester especially. You girls know that you're closer to me than I can even express. Not seeing you every day, not falling asleep to you ten feet away, not laughing with you, has made me so horribly sad. I've heard the term "post DTS depression" and laughed it off, thinking that was cute, but I now know whoever coined that phrase was not joking.<br />
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I'm currently sitting in the YWAM San Diego office. Two more of my family members are leaving this afternoon; tonight I'm picking up Michelle and we're going to hang out in Ensenada for a week. So ridiculously happy to see her, so unbelievably sad DTS is over. So glad for this season of growth and renewal in Christ.<br />
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow.<br />
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</div>Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-91737685561718692002012-02-07T11:23:00.000-08:002012-02-07T11:23:08.803-08:00LAST WEEK!!HEY ALL!<br />
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This is our last week of outreach!!!! On Saturday we will be back in Ensenada!! (Not that I'm excited or anything.)<br />
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Anyways. My last week of outreach is looking a lot different than the rest of my team's. Because of the situation with my back, I was not able to go with my team to the village for this week. Also doing any kind of physical labour is completely out of the question for me right now. So. I am hanging out on the base, which is Esau and Ale's house. At first I was super opposed to the idea of being here while my team is gone. The first night, I moved from the girl's house down the road to the guy's room, which is on the base property. I was still awake at 6 am - it was too quiet!! I have been used to living in community and having a houseful of roommates, and my first night of silence in five months sent me for a loop.<br />
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However. Being on the base has been really awesome. I think I needed this time, because before this I was running on fumes and not sure I'd make it to the end without burning out. I'm calling this week my "pre-debrief debrief week." Next week in Ensenada is our debrief week, but I guess I kind of get two. My staff gave me a list of things to do - a few teachings to listen to, team blogging, slideshow, intercession etc. So it's been really nice. I didn't know how much I missed quiet time until I got it back this week!! I am definitely missing my team, but the quiet has been more welcome than I had imagined. Since I have to take it easy for my back anyways, it's nice to have a bit of my own schedule this week. I've also spent a lot of time with the family that lives here, and they are great. Ale is studying to be a nurse too! She speaks English, so her and I talk about nursing a lot. Today I helped Hannah (their daughter) sort clothes for a thrift store for an hour and a half.<br />
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YWAM teaches you to be flexible - I definitely appreciate that, especially this week. It hasn't gone at all how I've expected it to, but then again I never expected I'd be in a Mexican hospital having as many troubles with my back as I have. I've had time to catch up with a lot of people from back home, tons of time to pray, tons of time to just be with my Father.<br />
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Please continue to pray for my back, and for restoration. I'm still in a lot of pain and am waiting for the day I get back to Canada so I can start physiotherapy, go to my chiropractor again and go to massage therapy.<br />
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Also, yesterday was Bob Marley's birthday. One love.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-23884235609346581132012-02-03T12:41:00.000-08:002012-02-03T12:41:36.282-08:00Mexican Hospital Adventures.Hey all.<br />
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So this week I experienced my first adventure in a Mexican hospital. It included...<br />
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<ul><li>mystery drinks</li>
<li>eating cactus</li>
<li>flooding the bathroom while taking a shower... the drain didn't work.</li>
<li>attempting to get dressed again after said shower... It's hard, when you're attached to an IV.</li>
<li>realizing how minimal my Spanish is when it comes to medical terms.</li>
</ul><div>Basically I've had back problems this whole outreach, and for the last week I've been in a ton of pain. Tuesday night I got the most severe migrane I've ever had in my life and my whole back spasmed so they took me to a really nice hospital in Oaxaca. I was there Tuesday night until Thursday afternoon, just getting drugged up and doing some x rays. Now I'm back on the base, migrane is nearly gone, but my back is still in rough shape. If you could pray for me that would be awesome!! We literally have 8 days of outreach left and I'm not sure what I will be able to do. The next 3 days I'm ordered on bed rest, and we'll see from there.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Kind of getting lonely. The last week I have not been going out with my team to do ministry, and it looks like that may be the next week too. I thankfully have lots of reading material and lots of time to pray and hang out with Jesus!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for checking in with my blog, feel free to shoot me an email or Facebook message - I'd love to hear from you!</div>Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-26831122529482711282012-01-27T08:10:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:10:12.496-08:00pray.Hey all!<br />
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So. I have a prayer request! Some of you know I have a pretty bad back. I've had back problems for about 4 years now. Right now I'm hurtin'. I have rotated spinal discs and that's forcing two of my ribs out of place. Very painful. Very difficult to deal with in the south of Mexico where chiropractors are pretty sketchy. Today I'm headed to a back specialist, I guess we'll see how this all goes down. If you could pray for wisdom for this doctor, that would be grand!!<br />
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Thanks team! I love you!Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-17646066693778009402012-01-26T04:41:00.000-08:002012-01-26T04:41:45.496-08:00Home Stretch?HEY ALL!<br />
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So yesterday we had our first free day in about two weeks. It was fabulous. We got to go see some Zapotec ruins and then spent the rest of the afternoon in the downtown market. The ruins were AMAZING!! I'll put pictures up on Facebook at some point. SO COOL!<br />
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Spending the afternoon at the market was so fun! The only downside was majorly feeling like a tourist. I hate that feeling. Everyone wanted us to buy their stuff and by the end of it I got somewhat frustrated. I life in Mexico, and I haaaaaate feeling like a tourist. Worst feeling ever.<br />
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Today is a long day. From 8 am to 3 pm we are building a roof, and tonight we're doing ministry at a hospital. It's currently 6:40 am. We're leaving for the build site at 7:30. We finish at the hospital tonight at 8 pm. Long day.<br />
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Thanks for the continued prayers and support. Love you all. See you soonish.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-43620437346259715972012-01-21T11:59:00.000-08:002012-01-21T11:59:22.079-08:00THREE WEEKSThreeeeeeeeeeeee weeks until we are back in Ensenada!!!!<br />
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I am so excited. Three weeks to bless people, and three weeks to be shaped by my Father. I can't wait to be back in Ensenada as well. <br />
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Please pray that we finish strong. Everyone is gettin' tired, but I know that God is bigger than that.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-26965126270818702642012-01-18T11:23:00.000-08:002012-01-18T11:23:20.959-08:00Oaxaca!Hey all!<br />
After a very long day of travel most of us are safe in Oaxaca. Cory and Peta are not here yet, because Cory got very very sick and also their flight got cancelled. Steph and Klaus have returned to us safely though. <br />
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We flew from Santo Domingo, DR to Panama City, to Mexico City, to Oaxaca. We left at 5:30 in the morning and arrived late in the afternoon in Oaxaca. It was such a long day of travel, but it went fairly smoothly. We had a few short layovers and not much time to get from gate to gate. However for the most part it went ok. Just waiting on Peta and Cory now.<br />
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Today we have a free day to rest and recover. I'm quite grateful for that - I'm pretty tired and have a migrane. Tomorrow we're headed to do ministry in a hospital!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED FOR THAT!!!! <br />
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Thanks for the continued prayers. I love you guys and miss being home.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-172053533349383152012-01-14T07:31:00.000-08:002012-01-14T07:31:07.915-08:00Mourning.Please be in prayer for YWAM San Pedro.<br />
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Yesterday one of the local Dominicans, a mission builder and a friend, named Frederico drowned in the pool. He was twenty years old - the same age as me.<br />
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Please please pray. Pray for his family and friends. Some of them came to the base and their wails absolutely broke my heart. Pray for his church, in which he was active in leading worship. Pray for the staff on the base here. They have faced more hardships in less than a year than others face in a lifetime. Pray for the DTS students who were present at the time of the death, especially those who tried to save his life. Pray for each person this man of God impacted and who are mourning his loss. <br />
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Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain"<br />
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Praise God that Frederico knew his Father, and is now looking Jesus in the eyes. Thank the Lord for the powerful testimony this man had.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-78127953660370684652012-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:002012-01-13T07:32:31.270-08:00Nearing the End.Hello beloved friends and family!<br />
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It's hard for me to believe our time in the Dominican Republic is almost done. Today is our free day and I am taking full advantage of it! Blogging, beach time, lunch out with my team, and relaxing. Now don't get me wrong, being a missionary does NOT look like this on a daily basis! I am trying to rest up because tomorrow, Sunday and Monday we're building a house!! I am so excited for this. A big part of house builds in the Dominican Republic is keeping the kids off the build sites. So we have a lot of long days ahead of us, building in the heat and trying to keep Dominican kids occupied for +5 hours... Should be interesting.<br />
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Early Tuesday morning (like 4 am) we fly out to Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO! I am quite excited. I have loved the Dominican Republic but I will not miss the men here. I have decided that I am not going to marry a Latino man, after being surrounded by them for a month. My time here has been stretching for sure and God has taught me a lot. I have grown and been blessed by so many people, but I am excited to move on. I'm so excited to see what God has for us in Southern Mexico. The first week we will be split up and living with families in a remote village. So that means no internet for me! <br />
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God has been blessing me richly. Currently dealing with some sickness, but God is so much bigger than that. I hope you all have a blessed weekend. Please pray for my team as this weekend building will be very hot and tiring, and in the midst of that we have to pack and be ready to leave early Tuesday. Thanks so much for your prayers and for reading my blog!Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-67162294915420438672012-01-09T17:40:00.000-08:002012-01-09T17:40:06.395-08:00The first week of 2012.Hey all!<br />
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I know this is a little late in coming, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope and pray your holiday season has been filled with renewal, joy and peace. Now as things get back into full swing at school or work, I pray you feel ready to face 2012!<br />
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So, I am now working on two blogs, this one and another one outlining the journeys of my outreach team. Please take a look at <a href="http://ensenadaoutreach.weebly.com/" target="_blank">http://ensenadaoutreach.weebly.com/</a> to check out what my team is doing!!<br />
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In case you don't feel like reading two blogs of mine... here's the recap.<br />
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New years was very different for me, but we spent New years eve celebrating with the Denver outreach team that was here and the staff. We rang in the new year praying for what is to come. New Years day we had a day off and most of us spent time on the beach - even though it rained.<br />
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January 2 Ensenada outreach left for Santo Domingo to spend a week with Pastora Veronica. What a fiery, compassionate woman of the Lord. She runs a church for kids and also a feeding program. The area we were in was mostly Haitians, the conditions were very poor. We spent the week sleeping on mattresses on the floor and having very cold showers. The schedule was much more relaxed than in San Pedro. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we helped serve food to the kids. <br />
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One thing I found very shocking was just how rough the culture there is. Kids engage in sexual acts at very young ages. Many of the boys have toy guns. Women there are treated like objects. It was not the most comfortable week for most of us - being faced with these things daily. We did a lot of programs, many of them for kids. We also did street evangelism and did programs in a park. We did one service in a brothel, while men came and went. That was very challenging. The whole time we were in Bienvenidos, many of us had heavy spirits. It was not the easiest week. It was however a week of firsts for me....<br />
<ul><li>first time seeing a kid point a toy gun at me with genuine anger in his eyes</li>
<li>first time speaking in a brothel</li>
<li>first time nearly blowing up a building lighting a gas stove (Mom sorry if you're reading this...)</li>
<li>first time I've experienced an earthquake.</li>
</ul><br />
Being in such poor environment really made me think how much I take for granted in life. For example, internet. Hot water. Safety. Security. Being able to sleep at night with no noise. Seeing the environment these kids are growing up in makes me sad. They have to be tough, or else they'll get walked all over. To be honest, I felt relieved when we returned to the San Pedro base. I finally felt I could breathe again. God definitely stretched us this week, and I was blessed by so many kids. Now I'm excited to sleep... So that I can wake up tomorrow morning and say, "What's next God?" <br />
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If you could pray for energy and endurance for my team that would be much appreciated :) God bless you all!Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2009250150297044838.post-64618270879521058722011-12-24T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-24T12:00:56.104-08:00Merry Christmas!Well we've been in the Dominican Republic since Monday and it's been amazing!!<br />
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The weather here is great, it's over 30 degrees every day. The base is small, but quite homey. There is an outreach team here from YWAM Denver as well. There's a pool on base, but that's mostly to keep cool from the heat!<br />
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Every day we have been going to different places to do ministry. I have never played with so many beautiful black kids in my life!!! Every day that we do ministry there are a ton of kids that just want to be loved. We have a bit of a schedule, one day a week we go to a specific place and do ministry. The kinds of things we are doing includes kids ministries, with games, songs, stories and crafts. We have done dramas in the streets, testimonies in the streets, and lots of ministry. Several people have come to Christ simply because some members of my group have stopped and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and talked to someone on the walk home to the base. Lots of children have heard the name of Jesus because of the work my team has been doing for Him.<br />
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I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas from the beautiful Dominican Republic. Be sure to take lots of ti to enjoy your family this Christmas season - because in my case, once you're away from your family during the holidays, you realize how much you miss them.<br />
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I love you all and thanks for checking out my blog :) Outreach pictures will be on my Facebook page. God bless you.Sarah.Stadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01090024563288758594noreply@blogger.com0